Hawks Inch Closer to Conference Lead

The defending Stanley Cup champs have pulled within four points of St. Louis for the NHL's Western Conference lead.

Jonathan Toews (tayvz) scored a short-handed breakaway goal 3:29 into the third period of the Chicago Blackhawks' 3-2 triumph over Carolina. The game-winner came just 31 seconds after Alexander Semin (SEHM'-ihn) tied it for the Hurricanes.

Patrick Sharp notched his team-leading 30th goal to help the Hawks win without leading scorer Patrick Kane, who was placed on long-term injured reserve after sustaining a lower-body injury Wednesday against St. Louis.

Also on ice:

— Boston picked up its 11th consecutive win and became the first team to clinch a Stanley Cup playoff berth by blanking Colorado 2-0. Patrice Bergeron (pah-TREES' BEHR'-zhur-ahn) and Carl Soderberg each had a goal and an assist to back Chad Johnson, who stopped 31 shots for his third career shutout.

— The New York Rangers climbed into sixth place in the Eastern Conference by scoring three times in the third period of a 3-1 win at Columbus. Nick Foligno (foh-LEE'-noh) tallied 18 seconds into the final stanza before Derick Brassard and Derek Stepan (STEP'-ahn) put the Rangers ahead 2-1.

— Shea Weber scored twice and Matt Cullen had a four-point night as Nashville downed the Flames 6-5 in Calgary.